Zendaya Embraced Her Inner Mermaid With a Wet Hair Look

Zendaya's latest press tour is once again proving her style never misses, in terms of fashion and beauty. She's spent the past few weeks promoting Dune: Part Two in everything from a futuristic knotted two-piece and glossy lip to a twisted white gown and a swept-back updo. Just last night, the star attended a photocall in Paris in another memorable match-up: a custom Louis Vuitton two-piece and a wet hair look with a dramatic, curved side part.

The wet hair look has taken hold on the red carpet recently, with celebrities from Megan Fox to Kylie Jenner trying styles that look fresh out of a shower. Per usual, Zendaya put her own spin on the trend by slicking her hair back in what appears to be a low bun that's tucked into the hood of her cropped, patterned top. Her side part also curves dramatically to the right before turning back inward again, and her edges are laid immaculately on her forehead and on both sides.

Zendaya's embrace of the wet hair look also nods to an emerging runway trend. For the fall 2024 season, several of the best beauty looks incorporate heavy hair gel for the appearance of soaked hair. Models at Helmut Lang and Coach, for example, had slick, near-wet gel at their roots that cascaded into dry, brushed out hair.

Of course, celebrities aren't attending a photocall with drenched, dripping hair. Instead, there's a specific formula they follow for a mermaid-like look.

According to L'Oréal Paris, a wet hair moment involves working an even amount of high-shine gel into a head of damp hair. (Too wet, and the gel won't stick.) For a slicked-back rendition like Zendaya's that also incorporates your baby hairs, focus on the roots. Comb and style your hair in your look of choice, then apply a glossing spray on the lengths of your hair that could use extra shine. Finally, finish with a maximum hold hair spray to keep the style in place. You can also use an edge control gel and comb to give your baby hairs a bit of extra attention.

Below, everything you need to replicate the suave look.

Try the Wet Hair Look